Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 610, 11 September 1858, Page 4

Markets.

There is no alteration in our produce market to report. Exports to the neighbouring provinces and colonies, limited in quantity by the bad weather, continue to be shown in our shipping report week by week. Mr. Alport had a sale of general merchandise, ex Mountain Maid, for Messrs. J. T. Peacock, and Co., on Thursday. The attendance was poor and little business done, and as the sale was altogether unreserved for all lots offered, a quotation of the prices obtained for many articles would offer no guide to importers or the trade. The principal items are as follows :—Tea, from £8 to £10 per chest; ditto, in boxes, 355.; coffee, Is. per lb.; sugar, Company's Pieces £56 per tonMauritius do. £45; candles.(Belmont Sperm) Is. Bd. per lb., moulds 9d.; soap, (Sydney) 50s. per cwt,, Star do. 3*d. to 4d. per lb.; currants 8d per lb.; raisins Bd. ; Coward's pickles 7s. 6d. per dozen; sardines 10s. per do; dried apples, 9d. per lb.; mustard in half-pound packages, 10s. 6d per dozen; oatmeal 2\ per lb.—No sales of spirits or other liquids were effected. We have no advices by later arrivals either from the Australian colonies, or the other provinces of New Zealand except Otago. It is, consequently not in our power to give any commercial information from those quarters.

From Otago we have the following paragraphs contained in the ' Witness,' of August 28:—

The arrival of the Lion and Shepherdess with general cargoes have made a very seasonable addition to our market of many articles of general consumption, of which the stocks on hand were low, especially tea and sugar" These' have for a considerable time back changed hands at high rates, but as there are further supplies shortly expected from various quarters, we may anticipate a decline in the price hitherto demanded for these articles of daily consumption The present wholesale price of tea in our market is £10 10s. per chest, and of sugar G3s 4d ver cwt. - ' L

In our grain market there is little doino- at present, and we believe that many of our farmers are holding back in anticipation of an advance upon present rates. From all the information we can gather from the colonial papers before,us, we are inclined to think that wheat will not decline in price for a considerable time to come, and it is provable that prices may even rule higher. Our belief in this matter may perhaps be strengthened by the fact that Victoria has raised 50,000 bushels of wheat less this" year than she did the last. The present price given for wheat is 7s. per bushel for good samples, and for export from 6s. to 6s. 6(1 per bushel is offered. Oats ss. per bushel. Potatoes £9 to £10 per ton. Fine flour £22 per ton. Bread Is. the 4 Hi. loaf.